OB Nursing with a disabled patient

mother/babyRN, RN · Oct 13, 2003

Many times, to those with Ms, paralysis, cardiac problems and any number of issues...With a paralyzed pt, they usually opt to csection as the patient can't feel the urge to push of course...But it is not always a given with other problems..Whatever affects the general public is bound to affect a pregnant woman...

Dayray, RN · Oct 13, 2003

A person with any special circumstances should interview doctors and find out how they do things. If lady partsl birth is possible for you and thats what you want, you need to find a doctor who will support that and who has the skill to assure your safety.

Go and see some Obstetricians and ask them what they think and why. Then when you have talked to them weigh their opinions against the research you have done and decide who will serve you best.

I've seen quadriplegic patients deliver lady partslly also had a patient with a brain tumor and history of seizers deliver.

They were delivered in the OR so that they could get a c- sec ton if the baby got into trouble but both were successful.

The patient with quadriplegia had a nice birth but the patient with the brain tumor, scared the heck out of me and was very sick afterwords. I think the doctor (who was both caring and skillful) let his desire to make her happy cloud his judgment. She was not a good candidate for lady partsl delivery. It turned out okay in the end but was very hard on the mom who spent 2 weeks in ICU after delivery.

The patient always has the right to make informed decisions. just make sure you consider all the facts and risks.

AlabamaDesigner · Oct 13, 2003

believe me I am no where near being pregnant...hell I don't even date yet but my yearly exam is what got me thinking because I was able to find a very kind doc who helped me through my annual exam by using an alternative position...my hips flexed back but not spread, that it made me wonder how we could ever manage anything more than an exam. I thought I would post here to see what stories some of you had that might give me even a starting point for what to imagine for later

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 13, 2003

The above posters said it all well enough. My experience is it depends on the disability. You did not state exactly what the situation would be. I have had people who were paralyzed from the waist down have lady partsl deliveries. People with spinal cord injuries/disablities are considered case by case. Just because someone is "disabled" does not make her an automatic candidate for csection-----a major surgery that carries with all the risks any other would. We really Do take each person case by case.

obeyacts2 · Oct 14, 2003

Well, I think your birth options will depend heavily ona supportive doc. One who may be more open to alternative birth positions may be a good idea. Not all MDs are comfortable with disabilites, so you just have to shop around. I do know of a lady that is a spastic quad due to head trauma in childhood that has an able bodied husband and birthed normally with no complications. I dont know where you are, but I have heard of a birth center in Oregan that is set up for disabled moms.

Laura